Initial Intravascular Ultrasound Without a Routine Early Baseline Study in the Evaluation of Cardiac Transplant Vasculopathy has Prognostic Valve.

Background: Abnormal minimal intimal thickening (MIT) on intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) defined as difference of ≥0.5 mm between baseline and one-year post-transplantation has been shown to have prognostic value. The goal of this retrospective cohort study was to evaluate whether abnormal MIT found on routine IVUS studies in cardiac transplant patients after 6 months without an early baseline study (modified MIT or MMIT), has any prognostic value.

Association between coronary angiography with or without percutaneous coronary intervention and outcomes after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

Aim: The aim of our study was to assess the impact of coronary angiography (CAG) after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) without ST-elevation (STE).

Methods: Prospective observational study of adult (age ≥ 18) OHCA of presumed cardiac etiology from 1/01/2010-12/31/2014 admitted to one of 40 recognized cardiac receiving centers within a statewide resuscitation network.

Results: Among 11,976 cases, 1881 remained for analysis after exclusions.

Digoxin: The Art and Science.

The use of digoxin in the therapy of systolic heart failure and certain supraventricular tachycardias is controversial. This review of the art and science of digoxin presents information needed by physicians considering digoxin therapy for these common cardiovascular disorders.

Zebrafish swimming behavior as a biomarker for ototoxicity-induced hair cell damage: a high-throughput drug development platform targeting hearing loss.

Hearing loss is one of the most common human sensory disabilities, adversely affecting communication, socialization, mood, physical functioning, and quality of life. In addition to age and noise-induced damage, ototoxicity is a common cause of sensorineural hearing loss with chemotherapeutic agents, for example, cisplatin, being a major contributor. Zebrafish (Danio rerio) are an excellent model to study hearing loss as they have neurosensory hair cells on their body surface that are structurally similar to those within the human inner ear.

The value of β-blockers administration during recovery phase of dobutamine stress echocardiography: a review.

Dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) is a successful technique for detection of ischemia in patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD). There are some data that administration of β-blocker after peak infusion of dobutamine can improve sensitivity. The goal of this manuscript is to review the current literature in regard to the mechanism and accuracy of post-dobutamine β-blocker administration for ischemia detection.

Going around the bend: deep inspiration facilitates difficult stent delivery in the native coronary arteries.

Percutaneous coronary intervention in tortuous or calcified vessels poses a substantial challenge for interventional cardiologists. Many techniques have been described to overcome the challenge, including the use of stiffer wires, buddy wires, the anchor balloon technique, and deep seating of the guide catheter. Herein, we describe a way to facilitate stent delivery in many tortuous, calcified, and acutely angled vessels: having the patient take a deep breath during the delivery.

A sternal accelerometer does not impair hemodynamics during piglet CPR.

Aim: To determine whether the residual weight of a 260 g sternal accelerometer/force feedback device (AFFD) adversely affects hemodynamics during cardiopulmonary resuscitation in a piglet model of ventricular fibrillation cardiac arrest.

Methods: After induction of ventricular fibrillation, cardiopulmonary resuscitation was provided to ten piglets (10.8 ± 1.

Metronome improves compression and ventilation rates during CPR on a manikin in a randomized trial.

Aim: We hypothesized that a unique tock and voice metronome could prevent both suboptimal chest compression rates and hyperventilation.

Methods: A prospective, randomized, parallel design study involving 34 pairs of paid firefighter/emergency medical technicians (EMTs) performing two-rescuer CPR using a Laerdal SkillReporter Resusci Anne manikin with and without metronome guidance was performed. Each CPR session consisted of 2 min of 30:2 CPR with an unsecured airway, then 4 min of CPR with a secured airway (continuous compressions at 100 min(-1) with 8-10 ventilations/min), repeated after the rescuers switched roles.

Long-term patency of saphenous vein and left internal mammary artery grafts after coronary artery bypass surgery: results from a Department of Veterans Affairs Cooperative Study.

Objectives: This study defined long-term patency of saphenous vein grafts (SVG) and internal mammary artery (IMA) grafts.

Background: This VA Cooperative Studies Trial defined 10-year SVG patency in 1,074 patients and left IMA patency in 457 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).

Methods: Patients underwent cardiac catheterizations at 1 week and 1, 3, 6, and 10 years after CABG.